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War buffs drawn to simplicity, ingenuity of American war machines

Tom Frauenshuh, left, talks with Doug Krause about his 1942 Ford GPW Military Jeep during a three-day military vehicle show Feb. 9 at the Market of Marion in Belleview. The show included a U.S. and German military weapon demonstration and more.

LISA CRIGAR/CORRESPONDENT

By Andrew FillmoreCorrespondent

Published: Thursday, February 21, 2013 at 10:43 a.m.

Last Modified: Thursday, February 21, 2013 at 10:43 a.m.

BELLEVIEW — The 1942 Jeep that Charles McWhorter of Mount Dora displayed at a recent three-day military vehicle show at the Market of Marion is more than a classic vehicle to McWhorter.

It’s a symbol of American military might and the GIs who beat back fascism.

“The M-1 rifle, the World War II bombers and the Jeep were largely responsible for the demise of Hitler. I was an Army engineer in Europe, and we had these style Jeeps in about 1942,” said McWhorter, 94.

“We were fond of these vehicles during the war, so people should be today,” added McWhorter, who had a post-war career as a tool and die maker with Ford Motor Company and operated his own shop.

About 50 military vehicles, mainly American with some British, German and one Israeli machine seemed to turn the open-air shopping center into an armed encampment Feb. 8-10.

A World War II combat re-enactment between fully outfitted American and German troops lent additional realism to the show Saturday.

Ocklawaha resident David Thomas, 53, president of the Southern Outpost of the First Florida Military Vehicle Preservation Association (MVPA), along with his wife, Judy, represented the group hosting the show. The group’s membership covers Florida and south Georgia.

The couple displayed their 1943 M-15A1-742 U.S. Army halftrack manufactured by the Autocar Company. It is one of only about 50 that is still operational, Thomas said.

The partially armored 21,000-pound truck features a tank-like track in back and conventional front wheels and tires for steering.

Some models of the vehicle were armed with two .50-caliber machine guns, a 37 millimeter anti-aircraft gun and a “roller for knocking down hedgerows in Europe,” said Thomas, an employee of the City of Leesburg Utilities/Electric Department.

“The U.S. sold a number of these to Israel, and some are still in use. We got the rubber tread for the rear from there because they still have the mold,” Thomas said.

Judy Thomas said the halftrack was in a museum in California then sold to a private party.

“We heard about it online and purchased it from the owner in Tennessee. It needed work and the engine was seized,” she said.

Thomas said a halftrack in restored condition typically would fetch about $35,000, but Judy Thomas felt the historical value was priceless.

“A lot of the kids don’t know about Vietnam, (Korea) or World War II; with the vehicles and exhibits we’re able to show them history they may not get elsewhere,” she said.

“I got hooked on military vehicles and Jeeps while watching the World War II desert combat TV series ‘Rat Patrol’ as a youngster,” Martin said.

“I spent about $26,000 to restore this Jeep. I have the tow bar in the front, which was used to tandem two Jeeps together to pull artillery in World War II when a bigger truck was not available,” Martin said.

The small, four-wheel-drive Jeep had an on-board grease gun and oil can, and the headlights were hinged and could be “flipped” backward to work on the engine in the dark.

Martin started the little four-cylinder engine with a hand crank — which was available to supplement the electric starter — and the 60-horsepower engine purred like a sewing machine.

The 1943 model Jeep will travel around 60 miles per hour, Martin said.

Hundreds of visitors milled around the displays.

Ralph and Laura Moyer stopped at the military vehicle event while traveling to Disney World on vacation from Pennsylvania.

“It’s amazing the time and detail these folks take in their restoration to maintain the history,” Ralph Moyer said.

Tony Castagno, 45, of Roswell, Ga., a West Point graduate, U.S. Army captain and Desert Storm veteran, brought his unusual GPA amphibious World War II vehicle to the show. He invested about 3,500 hours in the restoration, he said.

“There were about 12,777 of these made and about 150 are left operational. These machines, restored, would be valued around $150,000, Castagno said.

The amphibious craft “is basically a Jeep with a boat built around it” which will travel “about 60 (mph) on the street and six (mph) in the water,” he said.

“They saw use first in Sicily but little (use) by the Normandy invasion because when you got five troops in them, the water line came way up the sides,” Castagno said.

Castagno also has a 72 millimeter howitzer in his military hardware collection and two World War II motorcycles.

<p>BELLEVIEW — The 1942 Jeep that Charles McWhorter of Mount Dora displayed at a recent three-day military vehicle show at the Market of Marion is more than a classic vehicle to McWhorter.</p><p>It's a symbol of American military might and the GIs who beat back fascism.</p><p>“The M-1 rifle, the World War II bombers and the Jeep were largely responsible for the demise of Hitler. I was an Army engineer in Europe, and we had these style Jeeps in about 1942,” said McWhorter, 94.</p><p>“We were fond of these vehicles during the war, so people should be today,” added McWhorter, who had a post-war career as a tool and die maker with Ford Motor Company and operated his own shop. </p><p>About 50 military vehicles, mainly American with some British, German and one Israeli machine seemed to turn the open-air shopping center into an armed encampment Feb. 8-10.</p><p>A World War II combat re-enactment between fully outfitted American and German troops lent additional realism to the show Saturday.</p><p>Ocklawaha resident David Thomas, 53, president of the Southern Outpost of the First Florida Military Vehicle Preservation Association (MVPA), along with his wife, Judy, represented the group hosting the show. The group's membership covers Florida and south Georgia. </p><p>The couple displayed their 1943 M-15A1-742 U.S. Army halftrack manufactured by the Autocar Company. It is one of only about 50 that is still operational, Thomas said.</p><p>The partially armored 21,000-pound truck features a tank-like track in back and conventional front wheels and tires for steering.</p><p>Some models of the vehicle were armed with two .50-caliber machine guns, a 37 millimeter anti-aircraft gun and a “roller for knocking down hedgerows in Europe,” said Thomas, an employee of the City of Leesburg Utilities/Electric Department.</p><p>“The U.S. sold a number of these to Israel, and some are still in use. We got the rubber tread for the rear from there because they still have the mold,” Thomas said.</p><p>Judy Thomas said the halftrack was in a museum in California then sold to a private party.</p><p>“We heard about it online and purchased it from the owner in Tennessee. It needed work and the engine was seized,” she said. </p><p>Thomas said a halftrack in restored condition typically would fetch about $35,000, but Judy Thomas felt the historical value was priceless.</p><p>“A lot of the kids don't know about Vietnam, (Korea) or World War II; with the vehicles and exhibits we're able to show them history they may not get elsewhere,” she said.</p><p>Brad Martin, 48, of Largo showed his restored 1943 Jeep which he dubbed “Sally,” his wife's name.</p><p>“I got hooked on military vehicles and Jeeps while watching the World War II desert combat TV series 'Rat Patrol' as a youngster,” Martin said.</p><p>“I spent about $26,000 to restore this Jeep. I have the tow bar in the front, which was used to tandem two Jeeps together to pull artillery in World War II when a bigger truck was not available,” Martin said. </p><p>The small, four-wheel-drive Jeep had an on-board grease gun and oil can, and the headlights were hinged and could be “flipped” backward to work on the engine in the dark.</p><p>Martin started the little four-cylinder engine with a hand crank — which was available to supplement the electric starter — and the 60-horsepower engine purred like a sewing machine. </p><p>The 1943 model Jeep will travel around 60 miles per hour, Martin said.</p><p>Hundreds of visitors milled around the displays.</p><p>Ralph and Laura Moyer stopped at the military vehicle event while traveling to Disney World on vacation from Pennsylvania.</p><p>“It's amazing the time and detail these folks take in their restoration to maintain the history,” Ralph Moyer said.</p><p>Tony Castagno, 45, of Roswell, Ga., a West Point graduate, U.S. Army captain and Desert Storm veteran, brought his unusual GPA amphibious World War II vehicle to the show. He invested about 3,500 hours in the restoration, he said.</p><p>“There were about 12,777 of these made and about 150 are left operational. These machines, restored, would be valued around $150,000, Castagno said. </p><p>The amphibious craft “is basically a Jeep with a boat built around it” which will travel “about 60 (mph) on the street and six (mph) in the water,” he said.</p><p>“They saw use first in Sicily but little (use) by the Normandy invasion because when you got five troops in them, the water line came way up the sides,” Castagno said.</p><p>Castagno also has a 72 millimeter howitzer in his military hardware collection and two World War II motorcycles.</p>